I now that I must seem behind the times, since I have only just made the switch to Firefox 3.0. I have my reasons though, I heavily depend on GoogleSync, which has been discontinued (and doesn’t work on Firefox 3.0). Anyway, I’ve found a viable workaround, and I’m on my way. So what does this have to do with robots? Everything! Apparently Firefox was designed by robots.

If you open up the latest browser from Mozilla and type ‘about:robots’ in your address bar, you’ll be greeted with a message from your robot overlords. It’s a funny little Easter Egg which I thought I’d share with you now that I’ve finally been able to upgrade

VIA [ Robot Living ]

This is it. The pinnacle of modern robotics research. A company called AI Robotics has successfully created an ::ahem:: fully functional robotic woman that will be available for purchase as of June 11. When I say fully functional, I don’t just mean in the bedroom… According to AI Robotics, the robot (named “LISA”) can also cook meals, go shopping, do chores, give massages, and dress and recharge herself automatically. She’s got an IQ of 130 and can make conversation about news, traveling, culture and music. Have a look:

LISA uses proprietary RKS (”Recognition Krax System”) technology, which helps her recognize and respond to vocal, tactile, and visual stimuli. Her skin contains thousands of sensors, she has cameras in her eyes that can rapidly analyze forms, colors, and gestures and relate them all to an internal database, and she has the ability to learn augmented with a dedicated internal wireless internet connection. So, in some respects, she’s actually better than a human, and it won’t surprise you that I’ve already signed up to order one. I wonder if my real life girlfriend will be upset… She’ll just have to wait for the male version, I guess, which should be available soon.

[ AI Robotics ] VIA [ Communist Robot ]

You really couldn’t ask for much more in a robot. Except for maybe some brains and a better sense of balance, that is.

VIA [ Robots Dreams ]

Last year’s Baka RoboCup was undoubtedly full of really, really stupid robots. I wish I could have been there, but Japan is a leetle bit outside of our expense account (we don’t have an expense account), especially for such a dumb competition. Thankfully, YouTube has come to the rescue, with this video of Push-Kun, a robotic trashcan on legs:

If you’re wondering what it is or what it’s for, well… you just saw.

[ Push-Kun (In Japanese) ] VIA [ Pink Tentacle ]

And when they do, they wipe with this:

Makes things nice and smooth and shiny. Works on humans too, just try it!

[ b3ta ] VIA [ Suicide Bots ]

This comes straight from NASA, so it must be true:

“In a surprising and potentially troubling request, the new space station robot known as Dextre demanded that astronauts refer to it in the future at “Dextre the Magnificent.” Brandishing power tools that would make any handyperson blush, the mobile servicing system thanked humans for creating it and promised a glorious future where humans would retain an important role in the new robot order.”

[ APOD ]

Pretty much the entire internet got a kick (heh) out of the BigDog video that we (also) posted about last week. Gizmodo got their hands on another exclusive video yesterday:

I’ll admit it, I was completely fooled at the beginning. The video was created by Seedwell, a viral marketing company, who Boston Dynamics should hire if for no other reason than it would be damn funny to see who does better walking on ice.

[ Seedwell ] VIA [ Gizmodo ]

Speaking of Keepon, IO9 got themselves an interview with Daniel H. Wilson, author of How To Survive a Robot Uprising and most recently How To Build a Robot Army. The theme of the interview was a practical one: when the aliens come, what do we do? Here’s an excerpt:

In your new book, you offer a lot of helpful, concrete advice on building a robot army to defeat alien invaders. But shouldn’t we be forming armies of bioengineered defenders too? What would be your first pick for a life form we should reengineer for alien defense?

Bugs. Just like robots, bugs are covered in armored exoskeletons, impervious to having their legs ripped off, and I’m pretty sure that they haven’t got any feelings. How to Build a Robot Army doesn’t pay much attention to genetic modification, but it puts a whole lot of thought into how to upgrade biological creatures with robotic modifications. Here’s a fun fact to know and tell: Scientists believe that by implanting a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) at the pupa stage, insects will integrate the devices seamlessly into their bodies as they grow - like a tree growing through a fence. Hmmm… Let’s take a peek into my Bag of the Future. What’s that? It’s full of robot scorpions!

Click through to read the full interview.

[ IO9 Interviews Daniel Wilson ]

TechRepublic has a good article on why giant Gundam-style humanoid fightin’ robots are (for all practical purposes) pretty much the dumbest idea ever… and it’s not just because they’re vulnerable to certain mutants. Here’s an excerpt:

“The whole point of a hand is to grasp tools and objects. That’s what it’s for. Now, if you’re a giant robot, what exactly are you grasping, apart from the giant energy sword that exists solely to justify the creation of your giant hands? Again, when you’re custom-building a combat robot, you don’t have to make a generic interface like a hand, you can just weld the energy blades, rocket launchers, laser cannons and whatnot right onto the frakkin’ robot where they can’t be dropped.”

Click the link to read the whole thing, it’s worth it.

[ Geekend @ TechRepublic ]

Are we becoming an overly mechanized society? Let’s just not think about it too hard, or else…

Brought to you by The Onion.

VIA [ Communist Robot ]